Xier's gaze lingered on me after I agreed to stay, her smile widening ever so slightly, though something unreadable flickered in her amber eyes. There was satisfaction there—something deeper than just securing a tenant.
"I'm glad," she said softly, her voice almost a purr. "I think you'll find this place… accommodating."
Her fingers brushed the edge of the table as she rose gracefully, fluid as a dancer, every movement deliberate and captivating. "Shall I show you the upstairs?"
"Sure," I managed, standing quickly, feeling my pulse quicken without knowing why.
She led the way, her long hair cascading down her back like silk, gently swaying with each step. Her soft perfume—something floral, warm, and faintly sweet—hung in the air, drawing me closer with every breath. I followed her up the winding staircase, my eyes tracing the elegant lines of the banister, hand-carved with exquisite detail. The craftsmanship spoke to me, but even that couldn't pull my attention from her presence.
At the top of the stairs, she turned, meeting my gaze with a slow, knowing smile. "This way."
We entered the second floor's main hall, dimly lit by soft, golden sconces mounted on the walls. She led me to a set of double doors, her hand resting briefly on the handle before she pushed them open.
"This is the bathroom," she said, stepping aside with effortless grace.
The room was breathtaking. Marble and polished stone gleamed under the soft glow of antique-style lamps. A large clawfoot tub sat by the wide window, its sheer curtains billowing slightly from the evening breeze. Delicate glass bottles and luxurious soaps lined the edges, filling the air with an intoxicating blend of rose and lavender.
"It's… beautiful," I murmured, taking in the serene elegance of the space.
"I'm glad you think so." Her voice was low, almost intimate. "It's one of my favorite places… a space for relaxation."
Her fingertips lightly trailed along the tub's edge, as if recalling countless quiet moments spent there. For a heartbeat, I couldn't look away—her presence was magnetic, pulling me in like gravity itself.
Before I could gather my thoughts, she turned with a soft smile. "Let me show you the bedroom."
We continued down the hall until she stopped in front of another set of ornate double doors. With a graceful push, she opened them, revealing a large, luxurious bedroom bathed in the soft light of a low-hanging chandelier.
The king-sized bed, draped in white sheets with deep crimson accents, dominated the room. Velvet curtains framed the windows, allowing only a hint of moonlight to spill through. The atmosphere was intimate, almost dreamlike—a place that seemed suspended in time.
Xier stepped inside, her eyes never leaving mine. She stopped by the edge of the bed, fingers brushing the silky coverlet. Her expression softened, but there was something… charged in the air.
"There's just… one condition," she said softly, her gaze locking onto mine, unwavering.
My throat went dry. "Condition?"
Her smile deepened, though it remained unreadable—both inviting and dangerous. "If you stay… you share everything with me."
Her words hung in the air, thick with meaning I couldn't quite grasp. "Share everything?" I repeated cautiously, my voice sounding steadier than I felt.
Xier's amber eyes gleamed with something dangerously alluring, her faint smile deepening as she took a slow, deliberate step toward me. Her bare feet barely made a sound on the polished wooden floor, and yet, every step felt like a distant echo in my chest.
"What… exactly do you mean by that?" I managed, my throat suddenly dry.
She tilted her head ever so slightly, her long hair cascading over one shoulder like a silken curtain. "It means… I'm willing to offer more than just a room," she murmured, her voice like a whisper of velvet. "For a much… better price."
Her closeness made it difficult to think, the warmth of her presence all-consuming. She was now only a step away, close enough that I could see the subtle shimmer in her eyes and the faint curve of her lips.
"I don't understand," I admitted, trying to steady my breath.
Xier let out a soft, almost musical laugh. "There's only one room in this house… one bed." Her fingers traced the edge of the silky bedspread, as if inviting me closer. "We'd have to… share it."
I instinctively took a half-step back, feeling my heart pound in my chest. Was this some sort of test? A twisted joke? Her words were wrapped in such calm confidence that it was hard to tell.
"You mean… we'd sleep… together?" I stammered, heat rushing to my face.
She took another step forward, closing the small distance I'd tried to create. "That would be… the practical arrangement," she whispered, her voice low and intimate, like a secret meant only for me.
I could feel the edge of the doorframe pressing against my back as I instinctively retreated further, trapped between the unyielding wood and her steady, unrelenting gaze.
"There are… other conditions," she added, her smile never wavering, though her eyes darkened with something far more intense. "But… we can discuss those… later."
Her last word was a whispered promise—or perhaps a warning. The room felt warmer, the air charged with something electric, something far beyond mere attraction.
I tried to gather my thoughts, but her closeness, her presence, was intoxicating—both irresistible and overwhelming.
...
Her words lingered in the charged air, wrapping around me like silk. I tried to focus, to reason with what she was implying, but my mind felt clouded, every sense heightened by her presence.
Xier took another slow, deliberate step forward, her amber eyes never leaving mine. They shimmered with something between amusement and desire, like she was enjoying the way I stumbled over my thoughts, trapped between uncertainty and temptation.
"There " s no need to be... nervous, she whispered, her voice dipping into something warm and intimate. "I'm offering you comfort... security."
Her fingers grazed the edge of the bed, tracing lazy circles on the soft fabric. Every movement was fluid, calculated - but not forced. It was as if she existed naturally in this space, entirely at ease while I struggled to breathe steadily.
"I... I didn't expect..." My voice faltered as she closed the last bit of distance between us, her gaze locking me in place.
"What did you expect? she murmured, tilting her head just enough that her long hair cascaded over one shoulder, framing her face like an ethereal painting.
The air between us felt electric, charged with something more than mere attraction. Her scent warm and floral with a hint of something darker, richer - filled my senses, making it impossible to think clearly.
" I expected... just a rental," I managed, though my words sounded hollow even to me.
Her lips curved into a slow, knowing smile. Only a rental?" she echoed, her voice a velvet murmur. "But this... could be so much more. "
She lifted her hand, fingertips grazing my collarbone in a feather-light touch, igniting a trail of heat that seemed to pulse through my entire body. I stiffened but didn't move away. Couldn't move, as if she'd anchored me in place.
"Why resist something... natural?" she continued, her breath warm against my skin as she leaned in ever so slightly. "We're already... connected. Can't you feel it?"
My pulse thundered in my ears. Her proximity, her voice it all felt like a carefully crafted spell, designed to draw me deeper into her world. I wanted to question her, to understand what game she was playing - but my thoughts scattered as her fingertips trailed down my chest, lingering just enough to leave a burning imprint on my skin.
The room seemed smaller, the air thicker. Her presence consumed every inch of the space between us, filling it with something dangerously seductive. I couldn't tell if she was testing me or inviting me into something far more intimate and unspoken.
"I... I don't even know you, I whispered, my voice strained but honest.
Her smile deepened, turning from sweet to something far more enticing.
"You will. "